WHEN I PLAYED AT ACOUSTICKLE, THE MAZE, NOTTINGHAM

Well im packing them in now...last night i played a 30 minute set @ the maze in Nottingham as part of the Acoustickle night organised by Parisa Eliyon. If youve ever been to the maze, youll know its fully kitted out for any band and can hold quite a few people. It is available to hire out for gigs etc so if your interested you should check out their website - http://www.themazerocks.com/

Anyway back to the night in hand...Parisa did a fantastic job of turning the Maze (which is a bit like an underground rock venue) into a cute, chilled out venue with her little box of tricks! Fairy lights, flowers and candles all round...so we had the venue, now all we needed was the music...

I was first up (about 8.30pm), and played about 25mins of covers and originals. I started with P!nk - Perfect. This is one of my favourite songs at the moment, and its very recent so i try and get in one which isnt an old classic, i suppose to show im not a one trick pony!! I then went on to do my own track - Runaway, which is pretty self explanatory (you can check it out on my youtube channel BEX9637). I then did a new one - a cover of teenage kicks by the undertones but with a very acoustic twist on it, just to bring the tone down a bit as the first two songs were quite upbeat. I enjoyed doing that one but i dont know if il be doing it again, it wasnt my favourite.

My next two songs were both originals - Alive and November (again both on my youtube channel). Alive is pretty rocky, whereas November is a bit more pop folk in style. November is probably one of my strongest songs, and since Johnny Wright (manager of the Jonas Brothers, Britney, Justin Timberlake, etc) even saw the song on youtube and complimented me on it, iv tended to do that one!! Hey, he knows right!?!

I ended the night with my favourite cover - Feeling Good by Muse. Again i recorded this song recently for youtube :) Its one of my favourite covers to do as the guitar part is so simple, yet i can show off my vocals...

(There will be videos of my last 3 songs in next couple of days when the guy who recorded them puts them up, so i will put those up in a few days).

I only got to see one other act as i had to rush off, but he was definitely worth seeing...Richard Howell. A singer-songwriter with quite a David Grey style of songwriting, but with a bit more upbeat guitar. I'd say a cross between David Grey and the Goo Goo Dolls...both of whom i love so he ticked my boxes. If you ever get a chance to check out this guys set, seriously do, his songs are definitely worth the listen, and he makes the audience feel really comfortable and at ease while your watching him... His songs are brilliant as well, and hes a great guitarist, so if you like good music, youll like this guy!! He has a few songs on youtube that i found so check him out!!

So yer, all in all a great night! I will be going back soon i enjoyed it that much! :)
Thanks to Parisa for letting me play...and the maze team also for holding a great night...
Bex x

<<< PS, do you like the converse!?! my beautiful shoes!

OPEN MIC NIGHT - JAMCAFE, NOTTINGHAM

So, Id heard about this cute little cafe in Nottingham that turned into a cool chilled out venue on a Wednesday Night. That, i can confirm, is an accurate description. Organised by a singer/songwriter called Andy, who opened the night with his awesome Newton Faulkner/Jose Gonzalez style, he organises a fantastic night. If you ever get the chance to pop down, definitely do, this is the cutest little venue youll find, with people who just appreciate music and like a good live artist to serenade them of an evening.

I went on about 9.45pm and did 4 covers... i opened with The Verve 'Sonnet,' then Jamie Scott 'Standing in the Rain,' Pink 'Perfect,' and ended with my own version of Muse 'Feeling good.' Which i recorded...

The night went great, my song choices (chosen by my boyfriend Mat, myself and friend Harry) were a great choice and went down well especially the very well known two in there.

There were some other great performances from a duo (i cant remember their names sorry), with a guy playing guitar and girl singing who were very much like a Katie Melua sound, gorgeous to listen to. A guy, Aiden, who sang like Johnny Cash, and did a couple of country/ folky tunes, and there was also a guy who was very similar to Gavin Degraw, but with a guitar and not keys.

So that was a brief little summary, ended up in the bar afterwards so i didnt get to see everyone unfortunately, but it really is a great chilled out night if thats what your after. Its up in the Lace Market, near Ice Nine and Baa Baa so if you get a chance on a wednesday night, head on up there for a great treat. I will be going back very soon, i loved it :)

Thanks for everyone who came to support me lastly, you know how much i appreciate it (Mat, Matt S, Matt O, Harry, Pearse, and Guy (who turned up after id sang...better late than never i suppose)).

This monday, 13th June, i am playing a half an hour set at the Maze in Nottingham (Mansfield Rd), so if anyones local pop up and say hi, its 7.30-8pm.

Love,
Bex x

CHARLIE SIMPSON - SINGLE - DOWN DOWN DOWN, AND EP - WHEN WE WERE LIONS

Ok so around Decemeber time Charlie Simpson AKA Charlie from Busted and Fightstar released an EP (must have been pretty low key as im a massive charlie simpson fan and iv only just discovered it). Saying that its not even on itunes yet so i doubt its been officially launched...

The EP is titled 'When we were Lions,' after the title single. The feel of the album is very Folk Rock, and hats off to him, hes made a fantastic job! He wrote all the songs (apart from Bullet), sang everything on the EP, and played everything on there too, now theres a sign of a real musician!

If you havent heard any of the songs i recommend you listen to 'Lost,' its a real hauntingly beautiful treat. His voice is so haunting and yet soulful at the same time, it really is beautiful and unique... This song in particular reminds me of something from twilight, kinda muse but folk style...just gorgeous.

So anyway, moving on from the sickeningly good EP, we have his brand new single 'Down Down Down' which is currently featured on Radio 1s playlist. The style again is rather folk rock, which a haunting vocal and sick finger picking. The guy is talented, and to any busted critics, this proves beyond reasonable doubt the guys did have real talent, especially Charlie. I have bought this single, and its the best 79p iv ever spent! That good im considering doing a cover...

So what do you think of charlies new stuff? Personally i think hes got better with age, almost like a fine wine... hes definitely hit his best so far, i just hope he can keep it up!

Take a listen to new single 'Down Down Down' here, and let me know what you think...